Football seasons happen in the fall but are built in the spring. This is the time of year that high school coaches begin to get a feel for the product they’ll be putting on the field in the next six months.
Greenville High School head coach Quintarus McCray has found ways to work around the social distancing guidelines and mandates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic to work on the minds of his players and staff until they can gather again.
“This is just about the time that spring practice would be starting,” he said. “A lot of our skill guys would probably be getting ready to finish up with track season and our big guys would be in the weight room.”
Coming off a season where a high-powered offense renewed hopes and reenergized the fan base, it’s natural that the young Hornets are anxious to start working towards the 2020 season.
“The players call all the time asking if they can come to the field or come workout,” McCray said. “I tell them that right now, that we need to be patient and do what we’re being told to keep us safe and healthy. We stay in contact through group texts and chats.”
There’s nothing precluding the players from working out on their own. And many have taken to these self-paced workouts to stay engaged with their teammates.
“Some of the guys might send of video where they do 50 pushups,” McCray said. “That motivates the rest of the team to do the same.”
McCray said that the hardest part in all the social distancing is not being able to be around his coaching staff and players.
Usually, at least three or four dozen players have reported to spring camp by now and the coaching staff has begun working with the various position players.
“One of the things that we’re doing in the meantime is watching a lot of game film,” McCray said. “We can still stay sharp with the mental parts of the game while we wait for this time to pass.”
“I’m also checking in every day with my players to make sure that they are doing all of their assignments since school went totally online,” he continued.
“Once everything is over, I’m hoping to give Hornet fans a good team that features a little more power running and a good group of sophomores and juniors.”
